Haren, D-Backs outduel Beckett, Red Sox

BOSTON - Chris Snyder got the game ball, asked Dan Haren to sign it, and then stored it in a sanitary sock for safekeeping. This was one to treasure.

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Walking into Fenway Park on Monday, Brandon Webb said the history of the place struck him, and Babe Ruth popped into his mind.

Haren and Josh Beckett, though, conjured up visions of Cy Young.

Haren had his most effective start in what may become the most important stretch of the season for the Diamondbacks, who beat Beckett and the Red Sox 2-1 to stop a three-game losing streak with Haren’s first career victory here.

Chris Young and Snyder had RBIs to break a scoreless tie in the seventh inning, Young when he banged a double off the Green Monster and Snyder when he rolled a ball to first that Brandon Moss bobbled as Mark Reynolds, running on contact, scored from third.

The D-Backs (40-37) hung on by stopping a bullet, as third baseman Mark Reynolds caught a hooking Manny Ramirez line drive at his head to end the eighth inning with the tying run on second.

“It’s one of the best games, feeling-wise, that we’ve had all year,” said manager Bob Melvin, whose team was swept in Minnesota over the weekend and was 6-17 in its last 23 road games.

“Obviously because we win, but just the electricity here. I think the energy level really picked up today because of this ballpark, because Beckett is on the mound, because Haren is on the mound.

“It felt like a playoff-type atmosphere for us.”

Haren (8-4) gave up two hits, walked one and hit a batter in his seven innings, staying ahead of the potent Boston order by throwing first-pitch strikes to 19 of the 25 batters he faced.

The Red Sox did not get a runner to third base until the seventh, when Ramirez got to third and Mike Lowell to second on a hit batter, a single and a ground-out. Haren responded by getting Jason Varitek to strike out swinging on a slider.

“That was probably one of the best games I’ve caught,” Snyder said.

“Against a lineup like that, you can’t fall behind. You can’t walk guys,” said Haren, 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA in June.

“I was pretty aggressive with my fastballs. I probably threw more fastballs than I usually do. It’s such a good lineup. When I was ahead, I made sure I stayed ahead.”

Boston rallied again in the eighth off Tony Pena on a walk, two singles and a J.D. Drew sacrifice fly, bringing Ramirez to the plate. Ramirez took a 97 mph fastball for a strike, took two balls and fouled off three more 97 mph fastballs before lining a 92 mph slider at Reynolds for the out.